I hope that we all
Have someone up there in our brains,
That we talk to when lonely
Or scared, or angry
At a world that is savage
And requires some coaching
Like an athlete flagging
On the longest of runs.
I read a poem today, called Stanley. It was about a woman who has an imaginary boyfriend that she breaks up with. Whether or not I read it right, I don’t know, but I took it that Stanley was like her sounding board.
I felt that she was breaking up with a real man but she needed to practice with Stanley so that she didn’t feel so terrified; because knowing that you could be breaking somebody’s heart is terrifying.
It made me think of how I deal with big problems and rehearse them, because I’ve had my own Stanley for a long time. When I was going to counselling, my therapist was called Sophie, and more than a year since I last saw her, I still talk through my problems in my head – with her.
I think that everyone needs a Stanley. He is very important for our mental health and you are far from crazy if you need to take a time out and have a chat with him.
Much Love
Rachel xx
rebecca s revels
I do that a lot, but haven’t actually looked at it as if I were talking with another person.
patientandkindlove
I’m always talking to someone else. They change from time to time, but they are always important people in my life.
clcouch123
I think this is good advice. When I hear only me inside my brain, the voice is nearly always complaining.
Margot Kinberg
That’s really interesting – who are those voices? I think that, as a writer, I always have other voices in my head – voices of my characters when they tell me their stories. Sometimes it’s hard to turn of the world and listen to them, but I’m always glad that I did.
Greg Dennison
Hmm. I like that.
crispina kemp
When I have such problems I *conversation myself* in writing, in a notebook. I did this a lot when I was going through shit. But I’ve come out the other side and I don’t often need it. My sanity, yes, it was my sanity.
patientandkindlove
Writing it all out is great. These times are what art and literature were made for…
crispina kemp
Yes… 🙂